スマホ用　　For Smartphones

December 2021

What am I? A hard trick set by the brain　

（スマホ版/For Smartphones）

私とは何か？ 脳によって仕掛けられた難解なトリック

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　By 白石　茂

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　(Shigeru Shiraishi)

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日本語版　　　https://www.what-am-i-j.com

English Version　https://www.what-am-i-e.com

1 日本語版+PDFファイル

2 English Version+PDF file

1 English Version+PDF

The first part of the paper, "Foreword", is excerpted as follows.You would be able to know part of the paper's contents. The PDF file,is at the end of this manuscript.

1-1 The answer to the problem that "What am I?"

First of all, I would like to start the paper from the conclusion. Maybe, you would think, "That is impossible". But it is neither a hypothesis nor "There might be such an idea". It is the conclusion that we can reach by logically tracing the subject, as it were, by solving an equation.

If we define "I" as being composed of "my body" and "my mind",

"I" = my body + my mind [1]

we think "my body" is the physical body, and "my mind" is an abstract one that is shown as intellect, emotion and volition. Of course, there is no problem if we define "I" like that. That is, it will be shown as follows:

"I" = my physical body + my mind (intellect, emotion, and volition)" [2]

I never oppose to define "I" like that. However, what we think as "my body" and "my mind" are quite different from those of the common knowledge. Concerning my mind, intellect, emotion and volition are important parts of the mind and they play important roles, but they are not all of the mind.

The objects which are seen before our eyes, for instance, a coffee cup, a desk, a newspaper, etc., exist there as the results of information processing of the brain, according to “the act of looking at”.

Though there might be various objections, if we define "the mind" as being the result of the information processing of the brain, not only the objects such as a coffee cup, etc., but also the external world which is seen before our eyes should be called as "my mind" or "the world of the mind".

The logic can also apply to “my body". "My body" which is seen before one’s eyes is also the result of “the act of looking at”, therefore it is the existence in "the world of my mind". In a word, the world which is seen before our eyes is not "the material world" but "the apparent material world", and the body which is also seen before our eyes is not "the physical body" but "the apparent physical body", as it were.

Let's consider "the mind" again. We would think that "the mind" exists in the inside of our face which is the opposite direction of our sight line. Please think it by the situation that you are reading this paper. I think you would have the impression, “There exists of “self” who am looking at this manuscript at the opposite direction of my sight line.”

We have the thought that my mind exists with my body. However, as it has been told now, the body we think as my physical body is the apparent physical body. The mind which we think accompanies with the apparent physical body is not the true mind but "the apparent mind", so to speak. Therefore, the previous diagram [2] will be rewritten as follows:

"I" = the apparent physical body + the apparent mind [3] If change the expression,

"I am an existence which is created in my mind".

It looks like, so to speak, a nested.

You would think it is meaningless because it is the conclusion at the stage without the detailed explanation. Moreover, you might think, "You must have been lost in wild fancies", as it is too far apart from common knowledge. If I were you, I would surely think as you do.

Though it seems to be paradoxical, we cannot obtain any answer to the problem that "What am I?", if we pursue it from “the existence of self". We will fall into a hard trick, as the title of this paper shows.

First of all, we need to know the true feature of the world which is seen before our eyes. It is necessary for us to trace along a long way in order to reach the conclusion that "I am an existence which is created in my mind".

I will pursue the subject as concisely as possible. I would be greatly appreciated it if you would be interested in the subject and would read the paper.

1-2 Self-introduction

You might think the story is pseudo science because it seems to be far different from common knowledge. Therefore, please let me introduce myself briefly.

My name is Shigeru Shiraishi, graduated from Waseda University(Tokyo/Japan), doctoral course (psychology), and have served as a part-time lecturer at a university in Tokyo for a long time.

I know well that even if a person who has received a professional training in his or her study, it doesn't necessarily assure that his or her idea is scientific. However, I have confidence in the logical pursuing of the question "What am I?", though it might be a little too boastful. I would appreciate it if you would read the paper critically.

PDF file

You can access PDF file, by clicking the following URL.

Link to the PDF-file: "What am I？"